"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and colleagues of these journalists and we urge the authorities to ensure that this attack is independently investigated and that those behind it are brought to justice," Reporters Without Borders said. "This appalling act cannot go unpunished.

"The horrific scale and targeted nature of this attack is unfortunately indicative of a decline in the security situation for journalists in Iraq. More and more journalists are being targeted because of their work. The authorities have a duty to ensure that they are able to work without fearing for their safety."

Reporters Without Borders wrote to the Iraqi authorities on 18 December about the situation of freedom of information in Iraq and the security climate for media personnel. RWB is now releasing the text of the letter and hopes the authorities will take the necessary measures to end these attacks.

Journalists are increasingly the targets of deliberate attacks whose perpetrators and instigators are rarely identified. At least 12 have been killed in the past three months. Others have been threatened. But the authorities still have not taken the necessary measures to protect journalists and still have not ordered proper investigations aimed at bringing these responsible to justice.

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In a camp for displaced Rohingya Muslims residents frequent bamboo “internet huts” where they can communicate with relatives who left the country, escaping the violence that led to 200 deaths and left over 140,000 homeless in 2012